Signs of the End of the Age, Part 2
Mark 13:24-37
- Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant”
- Jesus’ teachings, while difficult for some to deal with, are always timely
- We are looking at Jesus’ final teachings to His disciples
-- His teaching is clear, concise, and means exactly what it says
-- Consider this: It means exactly what the Holy Spirit confirms to us it means
- Therefore, we need to be wise when we repeat them, and wiser still in hearing
-- APP: When we hear nonsense, the Spirit moves in our heart, we should know it
-- This is at the core of learning to live for Christ: knowing what He taught us
- On Wed night we saw LOTS of information with a huge emphasis on one thing
-- PREPARATION! We need to be prepared and to pay attention!
-- There is a coming day where Jesus will return, and today we will see that
- Lots to cover … please pray for me to deliver it well to us today!
- Read Mark 13:24-27
∆ Point 1 – The King is Coming (24-27)
- Many people often wondered why Jesus emphasized to us such gloom and doom
-- His words can be taken to mean something bad, but actually its encouragement
- His desire was always to provide us with HOPE; a powerful weapon today
-- Hope is what the enemy desires us to not have, it’s why he fights so hard
-- IMP: If we have hope, we have something before us to focus on
-- It is when there is no hope … we experience despair, misery, and loneliness
-- This is the M.O. of Satan; to keep us down and living in wallow
- So, (v24) in “those days” (the final days) there will be terrible times for all
-- The sun will be darkened, the moon will be dark, and even the stars will fall
-- Jesus described for them the Tribulation in one sentence (quotes Isa 31:10)
-- APP: There will be no HOPE for those who experience this time
- However … (v26) the Earth will see a great sign of celestial magnitude appear
-- The return of Jesus will not just be seen by a few, but by ALL who are alive
- It’s important to understand here, this is NOT the rapture of the church described
-- In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus does not speak of the rapture as Matthew recorded it
-- Matt 24:40-42, “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
- The “why” Mark did not write this down is not focus here (Peter dictated this)
-- What is the focus are the words Jesus uses to describe this time of hopelessness
-- During the great Tribulation, there will be no hope … but God is still good!
- In v27 we see the collection of all those who belong to Christ at once
-- Gather the elect … those who are His and who call Him Lord (who live for Him)
-- From the four winds … From every location remaining on the Earth
-- To the ends of the Heavens … Including all those in Heaven with Him
-- APP: Even in the final days God will send His Son to redeem those who are His
- Contrast this to v24 (hopelessness) and we SEE how good God really is!
- TRANS: There will be a celebration of all who endured for Jesus Christ!
-- Truly, the King is coming … this is a promise we can stand on for eternity
- Read Mark 13:28-31
∆ Point 2 – Signs of the Time (28-31)
- Jesus then teaches the Disciples a parable using (again) a fig tree
-- What is incredible here is during the worst of time, Jesus installs hope for all
-- This parable is given to show us how we can still have HOPE if we trust in Him
- In Palestine, trees are usually green all year … except the fig tree (v28-29)
-- The fig tree would shed its leaves in fall as the weather turns colder for them
-- The appearance of leaves in the spring would indicate summer is coming
-- It is when the fig tree would produce fruit; APP: something better is coming
- Even in the face of persecution you WILL face, something else is coming (v30)
-- Jesus wanted to ensure the Disciples knew that during hard times, it would OK
-- There is a hope and a promise from waiting and being faithful
- APP: The fig tree does the very thing: It waits, & when time is right, it blooms!
-- Habakkuk 2:3, “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”
-- Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
- Jesus says (v30) “truly I tell you” to emphasize that this is factual
-- This is something you can stand on and look forward to happening
-- “This generation” means all of mankind, everyone that ever has lived or will live
-- “Pass away” means to be removed, to never exist again on this Earth
-- Everything Jesus is describing is told to us in Mark 13:5-23 …. Why?
-- Mark 13:23, “So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.”
--- It is said/taught so we would KNOW what the future holds!
- There will be a new heaven and a new Earth given to mankind (v31)
-- Confirmed in Revelation 21:21, “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away”
- APP: This is one of the reasons we studied Revelation: to see this confirmation
- IMP: If we trust in Jesus as Savior, then v31 is of GREAT strength to us
-- Jesus confirmed that His words are true, and that they will never be replaced
-- John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
--- If Jesus was there at the beginning, He’ll be there at the END!
- TRANS: Therefore, how should we be living today?
- Read Mark 13:32-37
∆ Point 3 – Pay Attention (32-37)
- Jesus is 100% serious about how we should be living today; without confusion
-- We should live a life that is committed to Him and to glorifying God (WHY?)
-- Because no matter what today brings, NO ONE knows when He will return
-- NO ONE knows the day/hour (v32)
- Don’t miss this: In just 5 verses, Jesus tells us to pay attention FOUR times!
-- V33: “Be on guard”
-- V35: “Therefore, keep watch”
-- V36: “Do not let Him find you sleeping”
-- V37: “WATCH”
- Not one of us can predict when Jesus will return (v32 makes this VERY clear)
-- With everything that is with in me please hear this and let it take root in you
-- IMP: Anyone who tells you they know what day is a liar and NEEDS to repent
- What man does when they say they know is: announce they are smarter than God
-- That somehow, they have figured His timetable out … those people are liars
- There have been literally hundreds who’ve made this claim, but just a few are:
1. Pope Sylvester II predicted return 1 Jan, 1000
2. Methodist John Wesley predicted Jesus return between years 1058 - 1836
3. Church of the Firstborn (Latter Day Saints) Joseph Morris, predicted 1861
4. Founder of Mormon Church, Joseph Smith, predicted return in 1891
5. Catholic Apostolic Church, predicted return in 1901
6. Jehovah’s Witness predicted return in 1914
7. Reverend Sun Myung Moon, predicted return sometime between 1917- 1930
8. Psychic Edgar Cayce, predicted return in 2000
9. Pastor Ed Dobson, predicted return in 2000
10. Scientist Isaac Newton, predicted return in 2000
11. Leader of True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days, James Harmston, predicted return Apr 6, 2000
12. Harold Camping, preacher, predicted May 11, 2011 & then Oct 11, 2011
13. Founder of Church of God, Preparing for the Kingdom of God, Ronald Weinland, predicted return in Sep 29, 2011; 2012 May 2, 2012, May 18, 2013
14. Televangelist Jack Van Impe, predicted Jesus’ return would be in 2012
- And still they continue … here are some FUTURE predictions:
1. Pastor Mark Blitz (ref: Blood Moon Prophecy) predicts Sep 28, 2015
a. NOTE: Rev John Hagee talks this, but stops short of giving a date
2. Psychic Jeane Dixon has predicted a return in 2020
3. Pastor of Mariner’s church, F Kenton Beshore, predicts in year 2021
4. Creationist Kent Hovind, says return in 2028 (in a book in prison; fraud)
- OK, so where am I going with this? Simple: Mark 13:32, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
-- It’s fine to disagree if you feel the need, we (I) stand on God’s Word here
-- Greek word used is “kaneís”; which means: NO ONE, NONE, or NEITHER
- Jesus, words are clear and without confusion (something we need to stand on)
-- APP: Pay attention, keep watch, because YOU DON’T KNOW (v35)
-- Remember this? Revelation 22:18, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.”
- TRANS: Jesus says we are to WATCH, which is a present tense command verb
∆ Big Ideas
OK, let’s try to sum this chapter up for all of us:
- 1) We can have total confidence in the certainty of God’s Word.
- 2) We are commissioned by God to preach and to teach His Word to all.
- 3) We are to live life consciously and not complacently.
-- Four commands in five sentences: “Be on guard”; “Therefore, keep watch”; “Do not let Him find you sleeping”; “WATCH”
- In light of all of this, and from your pastor, I STILL can only offer this:
I don’t know what’s going to happen in the face of the terrorism and continued violence and destruction/damage/disasters we are seeing daily … But I do know two things for absolute certain:
1) Jesus is Lord, and,
2) If our faith and focus is not in Him we have no real hope.
- Pray
